Question for February 2012

Artist’s impression of an Aztec house interior (Click on image to enlarge)

The simple answer is: due to the weather! It’s generally a lot friendlier in Mexico than in the UK, with long periods of warm, pleasant temperatures; much of every-day life in Aztec Mexico took place outdoors, even tasks that we do today indoors, such as having a wash, going to the loo, cooking, preparing food, weaving, looking after domestic animals, etc. The home was mainly just for sleeping in, and for protection against storms.

Mexica (Aztec) houses were simple, small and functional, to say the least, often with a single room, without windows. The doorway provided the only source of daylight. At night the doorway would be covered with a long curtain, to which was attached a simple bell, so the family inside would hear straight away if anyone were to enter the house.

1 At 10.50pm on Thursday April 12 2012, tecpaocelotl wrote:

Not to mention a bit humid.One thing though, did they always have smoke at night to ward off the mosquitos or is that something post conquest?

Mexicolore replies: Good point! Our understanding is yes, they kept a fire going all night - partly in reverence to the Old Fire God, probably partly too because corn processing requires that the seed be slowly simmered in a pot all night. So, as in Maya territory, Aztec household fires were places of constant warmth - and if they kept mosquitoes away too, it was a bonus!